Since New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary first summited Mount Everest in 1953, the world’s highest peak has not only borne the names and glories of countless explorers, but also tons of trash. According to a May 22 report by the UK's Daily Mail, the trash on Everest has increased by an average of 50 tons per year over the decades, posing a serious threat to the Himalayan ecosystem and the lives of local residents. However, after three years of dedicated efforts, the issue of trash pollution on Everest is expected to be completely resolved this summer.
As shown in the images, the large amount of waste includes climbing gear, tents, oxygen cylinders, food packaging, and even the bodies of deceased climbers. The issue has drawn serious attention from the Nepalese government, which officially launched a waste management project in 2010. This project has not only established a comprehensive waste management system, but also introduced codes of conduct and penalties for climbers. To climb, mountaineers are now required to pay a $45,000 (approximately 410,000 RMB) insurance fee and a 2,500 (approximately 23,000 RMB) equipment recovery fee. Over the past three years, through persistent efforts from all parties, along with environmental volunteers and villagers clearing trash on foot while climbing, the project is now nearing completion.
Although local Sherpas are deeply concerned about the ecological damage to the Himalayas, they rely on guiding climbers for their livelihoods due to the harsh natural environment. This makes raising environmental awareness among tourists even more urgent.